Happy 2025! A new year, a clean slate. Time certainly does not slow down for anyone, especially a writer on a deadline. Even self-imposed deadlines have a way of getting the better of you. Those can be motivating, if taken seriously. Here’s the latest notes from me on writing, works in progress, a writing contest, notification of a new release, an interview with another author and this month’s music selections! Got all that? Ready? Let’s rock. Writing. At a craft show in mid-December, I had my table set up with copies of all my books. Things were going well, with plenty of interactions with shoppers. I had just sold a couple of books when a lady hesitated in front of my spot. “Books! You brought books to a craft show! That’s brilliant!” It is always a pleasure to interact with readers like her. As she checked out the covers, she had questions for each one. After looking them all over she asked when the stories took place. I explained that each was contemporary, set in today’s world. It was worthwhile explaining that the timeline in both series covers less than a year. Of course, it took me a lot longer than that to write each book. “I don’t like books that are set way in the future. Or too far in the past. That bothers me if they don’t get the details right,” she said. I understand that all too well. It’s important to me that the stories I write are accurate. Often that requires research, especially in areas such as technology. That’s especially important with the crime novel I’ve been working on since most of it is set in 1992. Research is essential to your writing. Even with fiction. Good stories need that connection with reality. That makes the tale believable. And it’s good entertainment. A Writing Contest My good friend, Diana Kathryn Penn, is hosting a writing contest. There will be cash prizes available. Diana has three elements to the prompt, to help get you started. Deadline for submissions is March 1, 2025. All qualified submissions, whether you win a prize or not, will be published in an anthology. More details are available on the website, which is listed below. https://www.pagespromotions.com Works in Progress The last few weeks of December proved to be very productive for me. I was able to complete the first draft of “Part Time Criminal” the novella that demanded my attention since October. I was able to share that draft with several beta readers who are willing to read my crazy efforts and give me feedback. Once those reactions have been received, I’ll make the necessary revisions. Then it’s off to the editor for the serious polishing, formatting and shaping. This also allowed me time to return to Leo Agonasti’s novel. After being away from Leo for so long, it was necessary to reread the manuscript to pick up where I left off. Meanwhile, ideas for the fourth Chene mystery keep arriving. And there’s also a certain redheaded female who is growing impatient. Jamie does not like to be left out of the action. ![]() A New Release Inkspell Publishing, which produces the Jamie Richmond series, has many talented authors in the family. Recently I’ve connected with Penelope Holt, whose latest book was released this month. ![]() Polly Wants a Lover Polly wants a lover to outmatch her cheating husband and heal her broken heart. From childhood, Polly Sullivan was obsessed with one thing—becoming a professional dancer, right up until the day Christian Caldwell strode into her life. A sexual magnet and force of nature, he seduced her with his irresistible lovemaking, taking over her life and undermining her ambition, until he alone was her sole obsession. Six years later, and now Christian’s wife, Polly’s career and confidence are in tatters. As she tails her husband’s latest mistress through a parking lot, fate puts her on a collision course with love when she runs her Subaru into a pick-up truck. Its owner, Marcus Bell, is heir to the legendary Turner-Bell horse farm, although he is currently estranged from his family and slumming as the manager of a dive bar. As she discovers just how many affairs lie in her cheating husband’s past, a shaken Polly longs to recover her confidence and the career she abandoned to become Christian’s wife. She yearns to rekindle passion with a man she can trust. But as her lithe dancer’s body cries out for Marcus Bell’s touch, her injured heart screams no. Is Marcus the devoted lover she craves, or is Polly dancing from one heartbreak to another? Excerpt Polly set her wine glass down on the bedroom dresser. Her lingering doubts and worries about her marriage had crushed her self-confidence. Once hot nights in bed with Christian were growing colder. They still had sex, and he was still hungry for her, but his desire seemed fleeting, and once satisfied, she could see how his thoughts turned elsewhere. Today, in the parking lot, she’d gotten an eyeful of his mistress, so at least she knew now why he was so distracted, and where his thoughts went when he had that distant look on his face. She took the blue nightie from her dresser drawer and unfolded the sexy garment. Now it only mocked her naive notion that she could fix her marriage with a home-cooked meal and a night of smoldering sex in lacy lingerie. In the mirror, she caught sight of her frowning face and saw early signs of elevens, the two vertical worry lines between her eyes. She thought about the last few months and Christian’s guilty behavior. More than once, he’d come home in the early morning hours, claiming business meetings had kept him out late. He kept his phone on him at all times, clearly worried that she might get her hands on it and discover something damning. And he was throwing off a strange energy. Sometimes distant, and then, at other times, almost too affectionate, like he was compensating for something. “Penny for your thoughts,” she would say, when she caught him with a far-away look in his eye, but he would brush her off. “Just work stuff.” Instead of acknowledging the signs that her husband was cheating, it had been easier to put the blame on herself and vow to work harder at fixing a marriage she hadn’t broken. She smoothed away the frown lines with her finger and talked to her reflection in the mirror. “You’re not a kid anymore, Polly. You’re coming up on thirty-three. You’ve given Christian six of your best years. Don’t waste any more on what can’t be saved.” But even as she said this, she was filled with insecurity. On what planet would she ever be able to walk away from Christian Caldwell? Handsome, successful, going places, with the world at his feet. He had captured her heart long ago, and she worried that now, even after he'd broken it, she wouldn’t be able to take it back from him. Balling up the nightie, she crushed the soft fabric and crammed it in the drawer. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK7VXXLN Author Spotlight Many years ago (okay, more than five but less than twenty) in the early stages as a vendor, I started connecting with other authors. That’s where I met Donald Levin. We both wrote mysteries that were set in the metropolitan Detroit area. Since that time, we’ve become good friends, sharing the occasional meal and connecting at events. Don is an extraordinary author. A gifted storyteller, he’s an expert at weaving intricate stories filled with unique characters and plenty of conflict. And he does all this with style. Everyone takes a different path to becoming a published author. What was your journey like? My journey has been a series of zigzags, dead ends, and end runs. I always wanted to be a fiction writer, ever since I was a little boy. As I grew older, I paid my dues in the usual ways. . . I worked regular jobs during the day (or at night; for a time, I managed movie theatres) and when I wasn't working I wrote as much as possible--short fiction, novels, journals, anything that I thought would help me learn to write. I collected rejections by the score, along with just enough acceptances to keep me plugging along. People I met along the way promised to help me find an agent (they didn't), to publish me in their literary journals (they didn't), and to represent me (one agent who said she wanted to represent me died before anything could happen) --but still I kept at it. And then, in the early 80s, a hotshot New York agent agreed to represent a novel I’d written. He was the real deal, and I thought it was just a matter of time until I broke through. Except in the end it wasn’t. After three years of trying to place it, the agent regretfully sent the manuscript back, saying he couldn’t do anything more with it. Nobody wanted it. He didn’t want it anymore. And he turned down the novel I’d written in the meantime. I was crushed. That final rejection was it for me. I’m not meant for this, I thought. I failed. I left imaginative writing behind. I became a writer, yes, but not of fiction. I earned my living by my pen (or word processor, as the case may be) as a professional who wrote speeches, grants, newsletters, annual reports, video scripts, and everything else you can think of for hospitals, government, and businesses as big as IBM and GM and as small as one-man computer start-ups. But the urge to write fiction never went away. Whenever I felt that urge, though, the memory of having failed stopped me. Nobody wants what you have to say, my inner demon insisted; just stop already. Why put yourself through this aggravation again? Eventually the relentless urge to write fiction became too insistent to ignore, and in the early 1990s I wrote another novel. By that time self-publishing was starting to be a thing, so I put it out myself with my rudimentary computer skills. It went nowhere . . . but at least I finished it and it was out in the world. Eventually, I became a college professor, and I started writing short fiction again. I published a few but, still smarting from failing as a novelist, I began writing poetry, which I hadn’t failed at yet. And then to my surprise, people began to publish my poems. One poem won a prize. Then I wrote and published some more short stories and one of them won a prize. Finally, my confidence restored and bolstered by disciplined work habits honed as a writing professional, I tried my hand at another novel, this time a mystery. I signed a contract with a small publisher who never brought it out. I decided to bring it out myself. Then I published six more. Then I published three historical novels set in Detroit, and I'm about to work on the fourth. I guess if there's a lesson here, it's this: never quit. What's important is the writing, not the publishing or the reception. Let’s get wild. Your latest book has been selected by a streaming service to be made into a movie (or series). The producers have asked for your thoughts on casting the top three characters. Who would you choose? I'll preface this by saying I have no interest in getting movies or series made of my books. My father was in the film business and I saw up close what a horrible, back-stabbing business it is. But of course it's fun to think about what your characters look like, and what actors might embody them. So for my latest book, The Ghosts of Detroit, here's what I'm thinking: A central character in all three books in the series is Clarence Brown, one of the first African American detectives on the Detroit Police Force. Clarence could be played by Ernie Hudson. Another main character in the last book is Clarence's adopted son, Malone Coleman, who wants to be an artist. I see Malone played by John Boyega. Another main character is Jewish WWII veteran Jake Lieberman, who struggles with the horrors he saw in the extermination camps of Europe. I can see Jake Gyllenhaal in this role. Anna Miller is another main character, a young woman striving to overcome her history of sexual abuse. I'm looking at you, Elle Fanning. Finally, war widow Sgt. Bridget McManus of the Detroit Police Department's Women's Division rounds out the cast. I wouldn't turn down Rosario Dawson for this role. Do you prepare an outline before you start writing a story? No. I tried once and strayed from the outline almost immediately. I generally start out with a general sense of the characters and the vaguest idea of a possible narrative arc (or crime, in the case of the mysteries), and let characters and events bounce off each other and develop the story as I write. I usually don't start out knowing where I'm going with a book. When the first draft is finished, then I'll outline it so when I start the rewrites I can see how the story develops, what needs more, what needs less, where weak spots are, and so on. Tell us about your latest book. The Ghosts of Detroit brings together four shattered souls in Detroit in 1955, a troubled time of factory closings, the Red Scare, and racial hatred. Jewish WWII vet Jake Lieberman struggles to live with the horrors he saw in the extermination camps of Europe. Gifted artist Malone Coleman negotiates a world of relentless racism to find the informer who betrayed him and cost him his job. Photographer Anna Miller strives to overcome her heart-rending history of sexual abuse. And war widow Sgt. Bridget McManus of the Detroit Police Department's Women's Division desperately searches for a serial child-killer. This third volume in my Detroit series takes this quartet of seekers on a journey through the forces that shaped mid-century America. Here's the prologue, set on February 26, 1952. “State your name for the record.” “Jacob Lieberman.” “Where were you born?” “I would first like to make a statement.” John Stephens Wood breaks in. “You may file your statement,” he says. The chairman of the House Un-American Activities Committee hearing, Wood has a lazy drawl that shows his origins in northern Georgia. “I would like to read it,” Jake says. “That will not be permitted.” Wood regards Jake with a dismissive sneer. “You may file it with the Committee.” Fahl it wit’ the Committeh. At which point no one will ever see it, Jake knows. And Wood knows it, too. The statement will end up buried in the voluminous proceedings of this committee’s poisonous activities. If it isn’t “misplaced” first. Counsel for the HUAC hearing Frank Tavenner moves things along. “Where were you born?” he asks Jake again. “Detroit, Michigan.” “Who do you work for?” Tavenner asks his questions in a calm, methodical voice, without looking up. From Virginia, he also has a marked southern drawl, but without Wood’s deep-south twang. “I’ve worked for the Detroit News for eight years.” “What is the nature of your work?” “I’m a newspaper artist. I retouch photographs, create advertising layouts, and so on.” “Have you drawn cartoons?” “Yes.” “For other papers besides the News?” “Yes.” “What papers?” Jake leans toward his attorney seated next to him at the witness table in room 740 of the Federal Building in Detroit. This is the third day of the HUAC Communist-hunting hearings being held in the city, Jake’s first as a witness. Heads together, they confer briefly. His attorney, Charles C. Cornish, whispers something and Jake straightens up and says, “I invoke my privilege under the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer.” Now Tavenner looks up at Jake. “You are taking the position that to divulge the name of the papers would incriminate you?” “Correct.” Tavenner signals his displeasure by holding Jake’s eye for a second too long before returning to his notes. “Have you always used your own name in signing your cartoons?” “I invoke my privilege under the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer.” “Have you ever used the name of Gordon?” “I invoke my privilege under the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer.” Tavenner reaches across the gap separating them to hand Jake a sheet of paper. “I am handing you a photostatic copy of a page from the Michigan Worker from October 3, 1948. You will note the cartoon deals with the relative strength of the Progressive Party in Michigan, and it is signed with the name of Gordon. Would you examine it and state whether you drew it?” “I invoke my privilege under the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer.” “I am placing this cartoon in evidence as Exhibit 1,” Tavenner says. “Are you acquainted with Richard F. O’Hair, the man who testified here yesterday?” “I invoke my privilege under the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer.” “In testimony yesterday,” Tavenner continues, “Mr. O’Hair said you were the treasurer of the Communist Party of Michigan. Did you serve as the treasurer of the Communist Party in Michigan?” Jake thinks this explains why, at one point several years before, O’Hair walked up to him and handed him two dollars with a wink. Jake thought O’Hair made a mistake thinking he owed Jake the dough, but now Jake knows O’Hair was trying to establish his bona fides as the Party treasurer. “I invoke my privilege under the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer.” Tavenner reaches across again and hands Jake a photograph. “I am handing you a picture and asking you to identify it.” Jake examines the photo. It shows a dark-complected woman with deep circles around her eyes, high cheekbones, and curly salt-and-pepper hair. Of course Jake knows who she is: Bereneice Baldwin, the Detroit housewife who testified last week in Washington that she has been an undercover spy for the FBI. She has been giving them information about Communist activities in Detroit for years. In her testimony, she named names, one of which was Jake’s. “I invoke my privilege under the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer.” Tavenner says, “Have you ever met Mrs. Bereneice Baldwin?” “I invoke my privilege under the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer.” Representative Wood breaks in again. “Under what provision of the Fifth Amendment are you referrin’?” “To the provision relating to self-incrimination.” Wood sits back, shaking his head. He is a southern Democrat, a segregationist and former member of the Ku Klux Klan. This is who’s passing judgment on me, Jake thinks. Tavenner returns to his questions. “Did you attend the Michigan State Communist convention on January 23 and 24, 1941, at which Carl Winter complained about the slowness of the drive to recruit new members?” Winter was the head of the Michigan Communist Party in 1941. “I invoke my privilege under the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer.” “Are you now a member of the Communist Party?” “I invoke my privilege under the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer.” Tavenner sniffs, shuffles his papers together, glances at Wood. Nods. Wood leans forward. “You are excused.” “I would like to read my statement now.” “No. You may file it on your way out.” Fahl it on yo way aht. “I would like to read my statement.” “The witness is excused.” What’s the next project you’ll be working on? Currently I'm working on reprinting a novel I published in 1992, The House of Grins, a mainstream novel, not a mystery. After I get this off my desk, I'll start working on the last novel on what I think of as my Detroit Quartet, this one set in the early 1960s. After that, it's all up for grabs. If you participate in any upcoming author events (library programs, craft shows, bookstores) where readers can meet you and get a copy of your books, include those details here I'm the inaugural author in the Detroit Jewish News Book Club. Participants will have read The Ghosts of Detroit and we'll talk about it at Schuler's Bookstore on Orchard Lake in West Bloomfield at 11 am on Sunday, January 19, 2025. I have planned a talk and reading at the Main Library on Woodward in downtown Detroit on Saturday, March 15. Details will be announced as the date draws near. Books are available through Don’s website, www.donaldlevin.com on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-Levin/author/B00J9U9HN8?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true, and on order through independent and chain bookstores. Music
When it comes to music, we all have favorite genres or artists whose work we appreciate and enjoy. I’m old school so my tastes run to songs from my misspent youth. Joe Cocker has always been a star in that category. Here are five of my favorites from Joe Cocker. You are So Beautiful: https://youtu.be/wlDmslyGmGI Feeling Alright: https://youtu.be/-RK9NpGr2-s Leave Your Hat On: https://youtu.be/hfgwrdYUQ2A Unchain My Heart: https://youtu.be/ZtFUX4Y2U84?si=crE8atPbYhp_Ng6x Have a Little Faith: https://youtu.be/pwOg88GMmbA?si=AN3Qo7Ggk-Uuwsg5
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“Time and tide wait for no man.” That quote from Geoffrey Chaucer is so appropriate this time of year. The Fall Semester of classes is finally done and dusted. With any luck, that should give me more opportunities to focus on writing. Here’s my thoughts on writing, my latest works in progress, an interview with another author and of course, music. Ready? Let’s rock! Writing Like most writers, I’m an avid reader. It’s not uncommon for me to read a book a week. Some larger ones, like a Stephen King novel, may take twice that time, but that’s never bothered me. If the story is good, it will keep me going. I’m always looking for different authors. One of my favorite sources to discover new talent is the local library. Six times a year they coordinate a used book sale. It’s a great fundraising tool and draws a lot of people in. Paperbacks are priced three for a buck. If the title and artwork catch my eye, I’ll check out the back cover. Then I’ll read the first paragraph. Should that sound interesting, I’ll give it a try. Good authors understand the importance of the hook. That’s where you catch the readers’ attention right away. Some can do that with the first line. Others may take a paragraph or a page. Here are two of my examples. This is the first line from “Rules of Desperation.” Nicholas Burr would never forget the first time he wanted to kill his wife. What could his wife have possibly done to warrant such a reaction? Here are the first couple of lines from “Why 319?” You never really get used to the smell of a dead body. It’s that thick, ghastly odor that attacks the nasal passages and stubbornly clogs the back of your through and just hangs there. It lingers, waiting, like some sadistic culinary delight that you really don’t want to sample. Most people read that and immediately want to know more. And that’s the key. A good author will craft a line or a paragraph that hooks the reader. They can’t leave it alone. They must know more. So, they keep reading. And that’s exactly what the author wants to happen. Not every book delivers a good hook. Sadly, not everyone can capture my interest and keep me reading. If I get twenty pages into the story and don’t really care what happens to the characters, or the writing is stiff and boring, I’ll toss the book into the donation pile. Life is too short to read stories that don’t engage me. A writer needs to draw me in, to capture my imagination, to keep me turning pages, trying to figure out what’s going to happen next. If you can do that, I’ll stick around AND I’m likely to buy another book from you. If not, it’s ‘hasta la vista, baby’. Works in Progress. New scenes have been added to my crime novella. I’ve passed 11,000 words in the first draft, which is encouraging. A couple of new characters have been added, which will strengthen the original cast. With a target of 25,000 words, I’m still on track. In a perfect scenario, I’ll have that done before the end of the year. But as we all know, ain’t nobody perfect. It should come as no surprise to anyone, me included, that ideas for both the Agonasti novel and what will someday become the fourth Chene book have gotten my attention. Of course, I had to jot those down in their perspective manuscripts to keep it going. Once you’re in the flow state, everything just clicks. A Writing Contest My good friend, Diana Kathryn Penn, is like the Energizer bunny. She just keeps going. Diana provides editing and promotional services to other authors. She also writes her own books and hosts the monthly remote event in February, where a litany of zany authors will play along in trying to solve a mystery. It didn’t surprise me recently when Diana mentioned she’s created a writing contest. There will be cash prizes available. Diana has three elements to the prompt, to help get you started. Deadline for submissions is March 1, 2025. More details are available on the website, which is listed below. https://www.pagespromotions.com Author Spotlight Someone asked me recently what it was like, competing with all the other writers I meet. I explained that it’s not a competition. It’s a collaboration. Many of the authors are of the same mindset. We compare notes, talk about self-publishing vs. traditional publishing, even discuss promotions, events or advertising efforts. That’s what happened a few weeks back when I met Cassidy Clarke at an event. After speaking for a few minutes, I offered to feature her in the spotlight. She quickly agreed. Let’s get to know more about Cassidy. Tell us a little about yourself and your journey to becoming an author. Hi! I’m Cassidy Clarke. I wear a handful of hats these days: I’m a part-time barista, a project manager for a podcast company, a freelance editor…and an author, of course! I started writing when I was around eleven years old, and I started the way most young writers do: writing absolutely terrible fanfiction that will never see the light of day. But by high school, I was penning my own original stories; at seventeen, I finished my very first novel-length work. Throughout college, I dabbled in dystopian, then sci-fi, and finally fell in love with fantasy. I wrote four more novel length works, did some querying, didn’t get much traction…then met my now-critique partner, Renee Dugan, who introduced me to the world of independent publishing. A month after graduating with my Bachelors of Arts in Creative Writing from Oakland University in 2021, I published my first book, The Saltwater Heir. Do you ever imagine one of your novels being made into a movie or television series? Doesn’t everyone? I absolutely do—especially now that we’re seeing more fantasy books (Shadow & Bone, Percy Jackson, etc.) getting TV adaptations! Any favorite actors you’d cast in the lead roles? I’d cast Sadie Sink as Soren, my main character, in a heartbeat. Her best friend, Elias, was based on Bob Morley (Bellamy Blake in The 100) to start with. Kallias and Finn, Soren’s two brothers (and the other POVs we see in the book!) would definitely be played by Sam Heughan and Dylan O’Brien. What is your writing process? My process has changed quite a bit over the years! I definitely prefer NOT outlining before I begin—I love getting to explore the story myself and let events unfold naturally when I can. This worked very well for the first book. However, with each subsequent book in the series, I’ve outlined more and more thoroughly. The book I’m currently working on has a full outline to keep it structured, though I do try to keep the chapter descriptions “vague” to give myself room to play. I write completely in sequence, however. Trying to write chapters out of order makes my head hurt! *Describe the characters in your latest book. My latest book is the third in my series. The main character, Soren, is a soldier who lost everything to the neighboring kingdom of Atlas…or so she thinks. When a chance encounter with an Atlas prince reveals the truth—that she is the Heir to the Atlas throne, long believed to be dead—everything she thought she knew about herself shifts in an instant. Forced back to Atlas against her will, Soren has two choices: embrace the kingdom she has hated for over a decade…or use her newfound heritage to draw out the secrets of the untouchable royal family. The first book is told from four points of view: Soren’s best friend Elias, who is slowly dying from an Atlas poison; Kallias and Finnick, the two Atlas princes (a.k.a. Soren’s older brothers!), and Soren herself. Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write? Most of them come to me as I write! I like to joke that they just wander into my brain and refuse to leave, like a stray cat deciding to follow you home. Soren, for instance, was already in the story. But just a couple paragraphs after she hit the page, Elias ran right in after her. This proved to be a precursor to their dynamic throughout the rest of the series: Soren running full speed ahead, Elias doing his best to keep up! *What is your latest book about? My latest is the third in the series, so without spoiling anything for the first two, it focused heavily on themes of sacrifice, whether blood is truly thicker than water (hence, The Blood & Water Saga!), characters reclaiming power and autonomy in unique ways after it has been stolen from them, and what radical forgiveness really looks like. (Also, there’s a fiddle duel on a pirate ship. “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” style.) Do you have an excerpt for us? This is one of my favorite pieces of The Saltwater Heir: our introduction to one of the POV characters, Finnick Atlas! “Now, hang on. I think we can all agree this was an honest mistake.” Prince Finnick Atlas backed away slowly from the rough-hewn table, the soles of his sandals sticking to dried puddles of beer and discarded bits of candied coconut, an innocent smile decorating his face. Not that they could see it with his scarf wrapped carefully around the lower half of his face and his hat jammed over his telltale hair. He was a lot of things, not many of them good, but he wasn’t a complete fool. Just half of one. Maybe a third, if he was being generous with himself. He had three minutes to wrap this up before the barkeep kicked one of them out. He caught said barkeep’s eye and tugged twice at his earlobe. She narrowed her eyes at him, a silent groan of Must you? written all over her face. He gave her a pleading look. She sighed, but gave in with a weary nod, plucking all breakable glasses from the bar itself. Not exactly the best show of faith, but he’d take it. The hulking mass of a man he’d just beaten in a game of cards—not all that high-stakes, definitely not worth all this fuss—drew himself to his feet, his club-like hands slamming into the table with such force the driftwood chandeliers on the ceiling rattled. “Oh, it was a mistake, all right. But far from an honest one.” What’s your next project? I’m currently working on the fourth book in my series, which will be released March 15th, 2025! How can readers find your books? Paperbacks: https://www.cassidyclarkewriting.com/category/books (Use code NEWSLETTER for free shipping on your order!) E-book: https://www.amazon.com/Saltwater-Heir-Cassidy-Clarke-ebook/dp/B08ZSYFXVP/ MUSIC
I’m not the type of guy to start playing Christmas Carols the day after Halloween, but the week or so leading up to the 25th is fine with me. I have a few holiday favorites. Some are classics and others are more recent. Here’s my top five with a variety of artists. (Mariah Carey) All I Want for Christmas https://youtu.be/aAkMkVFwAoo?si=c7sj3Vjg7bL7QAsB (John Lennon) So this is Christmas https://youtu.be/flA5ndOyZbI?si=eu1lVxyLIZkxiArw (Eagles) Please Come Home for Christmas https://youtu.be/5LUfDEATQHM?si=Wtm4RuVfGAVyYrdt (Brett Eldredge & Meghan Trainor) Baby It’s Cold Outside https://youtu.be/Rpg7-ab_F7s?si=ASl-DWj6fhtVLgQ5 (Kurt Russell) Santa Claus is Back in Town. https://youtu.be/_ZOFIsNnDOI?si=4HqJu_YrFFDI58NX Movies Everybody has some favorite holiday movies for this time of year. I will admit to never viewing certain films such as “Elf” or “The Christmas Story”. I’ve seen “White Christmas” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” more times than I can count. Neither of those make my list. Here are my top five, with trailers. “Die Hard” https://youtu.be/r3A44uva4a8?si=a8ExeD6elBoTSfbp “Scrooged” https://youtu.be/3YjrsSEEreY?si=m8iEsHzWqfbBImj8 “Miracle on 34th Street” https://youtu.be/leDD6Y-Nyqg?si=3C63hYHORkGfdOs8 “The Santa Clause” https://youtu.be/aCc7bTJ8FCM?si=HZ1zQROQMbiE2e6P “The Christmas Chronicles” https://youtu.be/YaeDa_Uempk?si=KMun8oXT7Qo9Ovns It’s November! That momentary sense of calm that settles in when Halloween is behind us and it’s a chance to catch your breath before the December holidays arrive. Of course, you may need to give Thanksgiving some attention as well. Meanwhile, it’s time for my latest thoughts on writing, works in progress, word about a new release, an interview with another writer and of course music. Let there be music. Ready? Let’s roll. Writing. Over the years, I’ve been encouraged by fellow writers to enter my novels in different award competitions. Human beings all crave recognition in one form or another. There have been a few programs in the past that looked promising to me, so I followed the guidelines, sent in my entry fee and copies of the book (yes, some require an actual print copy of your novel) and then sat back to wait. And wait. And wait some more. One such competition sent word that while I didn’t make the final rounds, the judges did enjoy my story. They even provided some feedback in the form of a scorecard. Several others never communicated with me. The only way I learned the outcome was to check the ‘official website’ where the winning authors and titles were listed. So, I’ve mostly given up on the idea of participating. Until a certain pesky friend named Diana kept encouraging me to enter “Rules of Desperation” in The Bookfest Awards. After multiple nudges, I decided the only way to silence her was to submit the book for consideration. Late last month, I was notified that “Rules” captured second place in the Mystery-Thriller category. Last December, “Chasing Favors” won an award for best mystery from N.N. Light’s Book Heaven for 2023. Now I can honestly declare myself to be a multi-award-winning author. Seeing that acknowledgement from people in the book industry is gratifying. That’s another form of motivation for me to keep writing. Events “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!” Michael Corleone said that in one of the Godfather movies. I’m not really comparing events to a Mafia family, but that line has a certain ring to it. After a whirlwind event season (that started in May and ran until late September) I thought it was over and done. But then opportunities presented themselves that seemed too good to pass up. And truth be told, I do enjoy participating in different shows, interacting with the other vendors and shoppers. I’ve got two events before the end of November. Saturday, the 23rd, I’ll be in Three River, MI for the Norton Craft Show at Norton Elementary School, from 9 to 3. The following Saturday, the 30th, I’ll be in Allegan for the Merry Marketplace event on Brady Street from 10 to 6. Works In Progress. Last month I described my plan to put the crime novel on hold while working on a new novella. This will also have a criminal twist to it, something in the white-collar vein. Of course, as with any of my stories, there needs to be a touch of romance. That’s always part of my efforts to make the characters believable. Man (or woman) does not live by crime alone. Even fictional players need someone to brighten their day. This project now has a working title. Over 9,500 words have been written. My target is 25,000. Sometimes the stories run a bit longer. That all depends on what the characters have to say. We’ll see where that leads this month. Meanwhile Leo Agonasti is patiently waiting for me to resume with the chronicle of his adventures. A New Release I’m an avid reader. While it’s usually mysteries or thrillers that draw my attention, it’s not uncommon for me to pick up something in a different genre. Especially if the story is from another talented author I know. I was delighted to get my hands on an early copy of Tammy Mannersly’s latest, “A Garland at Bitterbark Creek”. Tammy is one of those authors who can draw you quickly into the story. She creates characters readers can easily identify with and puts them in situations where you just know the sparks will soon be flying. Here’s some background on the story. He’s found a new home with her family while his own holds secrets to her past…This heart-wrenching rural romance novel will have you gasping and keep you guessing as mysteries unravel, and as Jack and Sophie discover whether their love for one another can survive the deepest of wounds and darkest of betrayals. Had it not been for her cousin’s wedding, Sophie Wendall would never have returned to Bitterbark Creek—her aunt and uncle’s idyllic farm-stay on the outskirts of town. Twenty years ago, tragedy stole everything from her including her memory, leaving only secrets and lies. Now that she’s back, there are just two things on her mind: to find out the truth of what really happened to her that day at the dam and to steer clear of the wicked Garland family and their charismatic son—the boy who broke her heart. Jackson Garland is one of the few people who know what really happened to Sophie all those years ago, but he’s terrified of sharing the truth. To do so would jeopardize his happy sanctuary and newfound home at Bitterbark Creek. Upon reconnecting with Sophie, he realizes that while her extended family may have accepted him as one of their own, she’s going to take a little more convincing. Although he tries to charm and distract her to keep his secrets safe, it isn’t long before he’s at risk of falling under her own tantalizing spell. As children, their love for one another kept them close until a car accident took one life and hatred tried to steal another. But dark truths can’t be hidden forever when ghosts from the past step into the light. Might the revelations be too daunting for them to handle? Or will Jack and Sophie finally put aside their family history and let love guide them into a future together? Tammy even provided one of her favorite scenes from the book. “We can’t just go back to the way things were,” she told him. “Why, Soph? Haven’t we been hurting and hurting each other for far too long? Isn’t it time to put the past behind us?” How could she when she still didn’t fully remember what that past entailed? Sophie sighed and eyed the bodily barricade before her. She could step over him. Her escape could be that simple, but she didn’t trust him to behave if she got too close. “Come on, Sophie. I’m not asking you to act as though everything is fine. Just talk to me. See where we can go from there.” “It’s the talking that’s the problem. You’re not the same little boy I used to tell all my secrets to.” “Well, I’m not some stranger.” “Close enough.” Jack studied her. “No, I don’t believe it.” He grinned again. “I know you missed me. You wouldn’t still be standing here fighting with me if you hadn’t.” “Excuse me?” Sophie scoffed. “Did you hit your head too hard falling from your ivory tower? I knew narcissism ran in your family, but I didn’t realise stupidity followed.” He sighed with satisfaction. “I missed you, too, Soph. Why don’t we hug it out?” He reached for her, and she stumbled backwards in surprise. “There’s such a thing as consent, you lunatic.” It was only after she’d regained her composure that Sophie realised Jack hadn’t been serious—and that he’d started laughing. “Shut up,” she grumbled, feeling a little silly. She bit her lip to stop herself from sharing his good humour. When they were kids, she’d often made Jack laugh so hard he’d caught hiccups. His genuine laughter still warmed her heart. “I’ve really missed this, Soph.” She wouldn’t dare tell him she felt the same. He was making it harder for her to keep hating him. But she wasn’t ready to let her pain go. I highly recommend you pick up a copy. Here are the links. AMAZON- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHLY9FQN KOBO- https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-garland-at-bitterbark-creek BN- https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-garland-at-bitterbark-creek-tammy-mannersly/1146317093 APPLE- https://books.apple.com/us/book/a-garland-at-bitterbark-creek/id6705121724 Author Spotlight I always enjoy meeting authors. It’s an opportunity to compare notes about writing, publishing, promotions and all that jazz. That was the case recently when I met Stacy Elliott. Tell us a little about yourself and your journey to becoming an author. My mother is an avid reader and she got me hooked on books at a young age. Throughout my childhood teachers commented on my talent to write poetry and stories and encouraged me to pursue writing. I began taking it seriously a little over 14 years ago before writing my debut novel ‘Grandfather’s Whispers’. Do you ever imagine one of your novels being made into a movie or television series? I try not to think about it. Those who have read Grandfather’s Whispers tell me that it would make a great movie and that the details in the book gives them a visual in their head like they are watching it on the television screen. I hope that one day I will see one of my stories on the big screen, but I don't let the thoughts bog me down. Any favorite actors you’d cast in the lead roles? Never thought of it. However, I imagine my favorite singer, Pink, covering the soundtrack. 😉 What is your writing process? With Grandfather’s Whispers it was a complete free-write. There was no organization, just pure thought to pen to paper. During the editing process, I vowed to never write a novel in free-write form ever again. So much time and energy were wasted reformatting the storyline, organizing the thought process, making sure the scenes matched up with the associated magical element, and ensuring the symbolism was spot-on. Now, I take the free-flowing thoughts and put them on index cards. Then, I will organize those index cards in a way that I want the story to move and create my outline from there. Once the outline is complete, I plug it all into Scrivener as scenes in chapters divided up by acts or parts, adding additional notes as I go along. Next, I build my characters and settings. I may draw a crude map if I need it for the storyline so that I keep my location in the story straight. Then, I begin writing one scene at a time in chronological order. This method has worked very well for my novels, and I do a condensed version of it for my short stories. Describe the characters in your book. Sarah Miller is the main female character, a 17-year-old girl on the cusp of adulthood and in a medical crisis. She's going through the typical teenage angst but has experienced more tragedies in her young life than her peers, which makes the prospect of aging into adulthood much more frightening to her. She meets her grandfather, Ralph Miller, while she is unconscious. Ralph has been the steady rock in her life, the one that Sarah can count on to help her through any problem that she may endure. However, some problems are too shameful to reveal to even her own grandfather. We quickly learn that even a grandfather's love can't protect her from all the evils in the world, but his compassion can help guide her into telling the truth about her past and into making a decision that will have a significant impact on her life and the lives of the ones that she loves. Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write? It starts with one and the rest fall in line as I develop the story. I usually don't add characters as I write. But, sometimes, during the editing process, I will discover a need for a new character in a certain scene and will add them in. Typically, they have a minor role and I try to make sure that they are in scenes where they should belong. What is your latest book about? Sarah Miller struggles to remain conscious while medical teams work diligently to save her life. As she slips into a deep sleep, she enters an ethereal realm where her grandfather, Ralph Miller, awaits her under the protective canopy of a large oak tree beside a still pond. But this is no ordinary tree! As Sarah gazes into its glittering leaves, she is whisked away into one memory after another. With her grandfather’s ever-changing tie, Ralph guides Sarah into understanding life’s tragedies and the power of decisions. She will discover the consequences of actions made by others, as well as her own. Compelled to accept the truths of her past, she finds the courage to face her fears. In the end, Sarah will have one final choice, a choice that could set the precedence for not only her life but the lives of those around her. What’s the next project you’ll be working on? My next project is a 5 book modern fantasy series. I'm not ready to share what it is about yet since I'm still working on it, but the first book has been written. The series is called the Snow Chronicles and the title of the first book is Ashes of Winter. It's in the editing phase and I need to write in a couple of scenes and rewrite a couple more scenes. I have started the second book. The rest of the series is completely mapped out. Here are links for Tracy’s book For a signed copy: https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLYZHARH66KXB/checkout/SAOBSZJ7E3QJUPI7TSDZOWFG Amazon: https://a.co/d/cqufWd9 https://stacynelliott.com/ Music James Taylor has been performing for more than fifty years! The singer songwriter guitarist started in 1966 and his gentle songs continue to draw listeners, leading to more than a million sales for each album released during a thirty year span.
Taylor has won 6 Grammy Awards and has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Here are my Top Five Favorites You’ve Got a Friend. https://youtu.be/3WJ1cf3nrLE?si=6WbICBUOCMA9L2pG How Sweet It Is: https://youtu.be/MEI1FIXstqw?si=h_ahV7OmCrf4K0RI Mexico: https://youtu.be/2e_huGmZJ3g?si=RumSPE8kcJTDB3MU Up On The Roof: https://youtu.be/R1lwPQhN9gI?si=YbGp63Kj10_zm68G Something In The Way: https://youtu.be/Bfk9nvUni88?si=bMRw7VMqJUgoQXco Here we go again. Another month, another glimpse into my creative writing efforts. A bit about writing, works in progress, a different twist on an interview, a spotlight featuring a new release and music. Must. Have. Music. Ready? Let’s roll. Writing “Once more into the breach” William Shakespeare. Every month I seem to get into a discussion with someone about the differences between traditional publishing and self or indie publishing. Before this year, I had never tried the indie route. The series that I write are both traditionally published. The Jamie Richmond stories are with Inkspell Publishing. I have always been pleased with the feedback and support they provide. Working with Melissa Keir and her staff of editors and artists has been a positive experience. Melissa is open to brainstorming strategies about promotion, stories or ideas about books in general. The Jefferson Chene novels are published by The Wild Rose Press. I’ve been fortunate to work with the same editor on all three books, which has led to great results. My suggestions and ideas for the cover art are well received and corrections have easily been made. This year I decided to try self-publishing an old novel that was just collecting dust on the shelf. “Rules of Desperation” needed some serious work. My skills at writing have dramatically improved over the years. That meant a thorough revision by me (twice!) before I sent it to Diana Kathryn Penn for editing. Two more rounds of edits followed before we got it relatively clean and came up with a cover that appealed to both of us. All this took time and money. Paying for an editor was something I never did before. The publishers take care of that. Now it was up to me. But let me be abundantly clear here. That was money well spent. Recently I was at an event where several local authors, who are self-published, had their books on display. I glanced at a few. The artwork was bland. One had chosen to write the entire book using italics. I learned later from another writer that the guy’s wife had done the editing for him and refused to acknowledge that it could have been better if an objective party, such as an editor, had reviewed and repaired the manuscript. Indie authors may never know the thrill you receive as a writer when a traditional publisher accepts your work. That’s confirmation that someone else recognizes your talent when it comes to creating a story. They also don’t realize the support and assistance you receive to prepare your book for publication. There are benefits to both sides. For me, I will continue to submit work to traditional publishers, especially those in the Jamie or Chene series. But I plan to utilize self-publishing as well, when it fits with my strategic plan. Events While I am no longer a road warrior, traversing the state each week, there are still a few events on the calendar. On October 26 at 1:30 p.m. I will be at the Hazel Park Library with fellow author Donald Levin. We’ll be reading a scene from our latest books and talking about our writing processes. If time permits, we’ll also take questions from the audience. After that session, both Don and I will have our books available for purchase and autographs. That’s a great way to get a jump on the holiday shopping. Books make excellent gifts. Work In Progress I had the best intentions of turning all my efforts and free time to working on the crime novel featuring Leo Agonasti. With almost 55,000 words written, progress was being made. My plan was to finish the manuscript, hand it off to a couple of beta readers and get it ready to submit to a certain publisher. That was the plan. But as Mel Brooks would say, “Man plans and God laughs” Scenes and ideas for what will eventually become the fourth Jefferson Chene mystery continue to demand my attention. Chene, Simone, Pappy and the rest of the crew would have to be patient, remaining in the background until Leo’s book was done. Also, part of the plan. Then a concept reared its ugly head. Even if I knuckled down and finished the crime novel, there was absolutely no guarantee that the publisher I have in mind (if the book is accepted) would have it ready for publication in 2025. The same realization is true if I shifted my attention to the Chene novel. But I’ve grown to like having a new book on my display table each year. In 2021, it was Stealing Haven. 2022 brought The Wayward Path. 2023 Jamie returned with Chasing Favors. And this year, Rules of Desperation joined the party. I really wanted something new for my display next year. Which meant a shifting of the gears and a change to the plan. If you listen closely, you can probably hear Mel Brooks laughing. That lead me to a crime novella. The idea is to crank out about 25,000 words on a story. Almost 7,000 words are already written. When the first draft is complete, I’ll tag my team of beta readers, clean it up and send it out for editing. Then I will self-publish this in 2025. My string of new material each year will continue. Once that is done, I’ll be able to return my energies to Leo Agonasti and the crime novel. It’s just that easy. Character Interview With the release of “Rules of Desperation” earlier this year, I had a request from Diana Kathryn Penn to ‘interview’ Nicholas Burr, the protagonist in that story. Here’s the result of that ‘conversation’. I understand that you were a ghostwriter of a young adult series before the novel came out. What made you choose to write in such an opposing style for your first solo project? It’s part of the challenge any artist takes, to stretch their talents. What’s important is to know your audience and make sure what you’re writing appeals to them. After completing each book in the young adult series, I tried my hand at writing a mainstream novel. How does writing that series differ from writing Justifiable Homicide? In the Skipper series, there is a sense of youth and innocence. The main characters are smart and clever. They are comfortable with each other. There’s no controversy between them. I’ve always been drawn to mysteries. For this tale, I just dug a little deeper, getting a glimpse of the dark side. I had to get in the mindset of someone who would do whatever it took to achieve their goal. Did you have a different approach or process? What was different about your research? The process is the same. I let my imagination wander and put the characters in different situations. With this novel, I referred to a lot of newspaper accounts about murders and unsolved crimes. It was important that the readers could sympathize with the main character and root for him. Did you collaborate with the other ghostwriters? Not on this project. Just to clarify, when writing the Skipper series, I do those on my own. There have been several different ghost writers over the years. Some may have collaborated, but not with me. Which came to you more naturally, writing for the series, or writing the novel? I’ve done several books in the series, so it’s easy for me to slip into the storyline and write. Although Skipper and Jojo aren’t my own creation, I’ve gotten to know them well over the years. I must admit to reading the series as a kid, so even though they are fictional, they’re like good old friends. Was there a scene or character in Justifiable Homicide that, upon final edit, didn't make it into the book? Yes, that’s not uncommon. Why did you (or your editor) make the cut? With Justifiable Homicide, there was some debate about whether the protagonist would get caught, or whether he would get away with it. I wrote an alternative ending where just before he disappears, ready to start his new life, the scene shifts and he’s sitting in a prison cell, replaying all the steps he took. That wasn’t satisfactory to me or the editor, so it was cut. Is there anything about who you are, or some aspect of your lifestyle, that you would exchange to become a better/more famous writer? The events of our lives impact our abilities to create. My life hasn’t been all sunshine, lollipops, rainbows and unicorns. Fame can be fleeting. If my next book isn’t a hit, that will just ignite my passion to write a better story. Life’s journey can fuel your efforts. A shortcut doesn’t guarantee anything. I’d rather earn the acceptance and rewards than have it handed to me. The pressure of the trial must have weighed heavily on you. With the constant questioning (and perhaps a feeling of being gaslighted) from the police, was there ever a time during that process where you doubted your own innocence, and perhaps felt close to a confession just to make it all go away? I am innocent. So, there was nothing to confess to. Early in their investigation, I offered to take a polygraph, so the cops could rule me out as a suspect. I was certain that once they had the results, they would move on. When it came to the trial, my attorneys assured me that the case against me was weak. They felt certain I’d be exonerated. The prosecutor made many comparisons between the case of your missing wife to the novel you wrote. Is that simply mere coincidence, or are some elements of those characters, motivations, and locations based in real life? (Smiles) Life imitates art. Or is it the other way around? There are some writing coaches who encourage people to write what you know. I may have taken some liberties, using my own situations to shape the conflicts with my characters. The struggles between the husband and wife, the way the marriage was deteriorating, could be seen as a reflection of my own life. People change. Part of writing fiction is to draw from your own experiences and build on those to create an interesting story. You've been on a whirlwind press junket to promote the new release. How have you found becoming an instant celebrity? It’s been a little odd. I’m used to just being a guy in the background. After appearing on some of the talk shows, people have spotted me in restaurants and airports. Everyone wants a selfie or an autograph. Are you having fun, or would you rather go back home and focus on the next book, writing in relative anonymity? (laughs) I don’t think going back is an option. Once the initial dose of celebrity winds down, I’ll return to the shadows and get back to work. Writing and promoting a book can be emotionally draining and stressful, although, truly, we never saw it on you. What were the worst and best parts of that adventure, and if you ever became overwhelmed, what did you do to recharge and walk out into another day in the public spotlight? The best was that I had some time to recharge between most of the appearances. That was part of the publisher’s strategy from the onset. Flights and car services took me from the airports to the studios or television stations, so I wasn’t fumbling for rides. Each hotel I stayed in had a swimming pool, so I was able to get in a dozen laps or so. It was a great way to keep in shape and clear my head. (Laughs) The worst part was waking up in a strange hotel room each morning. It often took me a few minutes to figure out what city I was in. That was a bit unnerving. Many writers have a playlist of specific music that they listen to while they write, others prefer silence. Which is best for you... and if you have a playlist, what are three songs from that list? I can work in silence, but don’t prefer it. Music is essential to life. I like variety. It’s not unusual for certain songs to help set the mood or the scene. Here are three from my playlist. The Five Browns: Rhapsody in Blue https://youtu.be/AWsjRK-yQvk?si=pBEkxn-mHBzymhIh Rickie Lee Jones: Woody & Dutch on the Slow Train to Peking https://youtu.be/qhBgGwr_Ktg?si=eQgW94Kw940aQWW0 The Commitments: Mustang Sally https://youtu.be/4eUJElS45gE?si=p-XwG4N19L01U4jp I don't know if your publisher is going to produce an audiobook version of Justifiable Homicide, but if they do, who would be your ideal celebrity narrator(s)? That’s a great question. Matt Bomer would do a wonderful job on this story. What's coming next for you? I’ve got a couple of ideas percolating. One is about an elusive serial killer. Another possibility could be a caper, like an art or jewel heist. We heard rumors of another manuscript, Double Cross... will that be coming out soon, or are you working on something else? Double Cross was written before Justifiable Homicide. That’s been picked up by Corrigan Press for next year. Will you still write for the children's series? Yes, as long as there is interest in the series and ideas keep coming, I’ll write them. Book Spotlight The very talented Brenda Hasse, who recently appeared here, has a new release, “The Healer’s Apprentice” Here’s some information about Brenda’s latest story. Ray Charles was a singer, songwriter and pianist and one of the country’s most iconic performers. Charles was the pioneer of soul music, combining blues, jazz and gospel into popular music. His career spanned from 1945 to the early 2000s.
Charles won 17 Grammys and was part of the inaugural group elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986. Here’s my top 5 favorites from Ray Charles. Hit the Road Jack. https://youtu.be/CyVuYAHiZb8?si=n32aVyhVp4aCwrqF What’d I Say: https://youtu.be/pVwIMNkTPSc?si=QR5OjapOLwR3vcaW I Got A Woman: https://youtu.be/lp246rpr2ck?si=A11enCpFWih1yf9g Mess Around: https://youtu.be/tk_xapZSO6g?si=4z9Zy6fyHqsTmrMv Night Time: https://youtu.be/PuNzqDUvods?si=HEuOeffpoYDTfTUS Here we go. Another month has passed and it’s time for the news. Some insights about writing, details on upcoming events, my current project, a contest (yes, a contest!) an interview with an award-winning author and of course, music. Gotta have music. Ready? Let’s go! Writing “Details matter in an investigation.” That’s a quote from Jack Reacher, Lee Child’s popular character. But details also matter in your story. Sometimes it’s the little things that can catch a reader’s eye and make them say ‘Wait! What?’. Many people will just keep on reading. Others may flip back through your book, checking their memory against what you wrote. Details matter. But even the best writer can get something wrong. It may get past the editors, who do not have any experience or knowledge about a particular matter. Or they may assume the writer knows exactly what they are talking about and choose not to question it. I don’t know everything. Never claimed to. So, while working on a story and I need information on a subject, I often turn to an expert. That has led me to interview people with a vast array of knowledge and skills. I’ve talked with doctors, police officers and attorneys. I’ve interviewed a young lady who was an aerobics instructor. Another conversation was with a lady who trained dogs to detect human remains, which some people refer to as cadaver dogs. There have been discussions with IT professionals, a gun collector and countless others. Why bother, you may ask. Because details matter. Or as some people would say 'the devil is in the details.' And it’s important to me to get it right. I don’t want an error to distract you from enjoying my work. No doubt some errors will still sneak by me. But it’s important to minimize them. Events Outdoor festivals are drawing to a close as the weather in Michigan turns a little unfriendly. The last one on the calendar is Coldwater’s Apple Harvest Festival on September 21. I have also been invited to Durand for the Fall Author Extravaganza on October 12. This one is held in a historic train station. Works in Progress With all the activity running from one festival to another and the new semester at school beginning, I’ve had only a little time to work on the crime novel. Last week I was able to add a couple more scenes and expand on the action here and there. I’m closing in on 55,000 words. Not bad with a target of 75,000. Hopefully I’ll find more time once these last couple of events are done. Still a long way to go before I can put it in front of the beta readers. It’s a good thing Leo Agonasti is a patient man. The Contest: Seeking Jamie Richmond This year I’ve been participating in many art festivals and events to display and sell my books. As any salesperson worthy of a commission would say, you need multiple pitches to attract customers to your products. That means I have one set that relates to the Jefferson Chene police procedural mysteries, a pitch for the new release Rules of Desperation and of course a different spiel for the Jamie Richmond series. Truth be told, Jamie is one of the most memorable characters I’ve created. She’s intelligent, clever, loyal, diligent, loving and possesses a real smart-ass attitude, along with a sharp sense of humor. Did I mention she’s a redhead? Yep! Physically, Jamie has been described as slender, standing about five foot seven, with emerald, green eyes. She’s in her early thirties. One of my pitches for the Jamie books comes into play when a redheaded female passes near my table. Author Cecilia A. Garcia, who has shared my booth on a few occasions, refers to this pitch as ‘shameless’. I’ll ask the lady if by chance she modeled for one of the covers. That usually leads to a smile. Sometimes it results in a sale. As Cecilia said ‘shameless!’ Recently I shared this with Melissa Keir at Inkspell, who publishes the Jamie series. She replied, ‘I hope you have a bunch of redheaded women of various ages who follow you from event to event, just to talk about your books.’ And that’s when inspiration struck. Why not have a little contest, seeking possible Jamies? Until the end of September, any ladies can submit a picture holding up one of the five Jamie Richmond mysteries. You don’t have to be a redhead. You could share Jamie’s spirit of curiosity, stubbornness and vitality. While there is no redhead on the cover of “Vanishing Act” it’s still an integral part of the series. The grand prize winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card. Second, third and fourth place winners (in the US) will receive an autographed copy of “Stealing Haven”. If you’re a winner outside the country, you’ll get a free e-book. Winners will be drawn at random. To sweeten the deal, the winners’ names will be used for characters in an upcoming Jamie Richmond novel. There are still a few days left to enter. Pictures can be sent directly to me at [email protected]. Ready for your closeup? Author Spotlight I’m always interested in meeting other authors and learning more about their journey to publication. It seems like just last week that Julie Navickas appeared on the scene, but she’s been around a little longer than that. Julie is part of the Inkspell Publishing family. She’s making great strides with her romance series. Let’s learn more about Julie. Tell us a little about yourself and how you became an author. When I was a graduate student, I enrolled in a scriptwriting course for fun. I completed a full-length film script and simply tossed the manuscript in a drawer when the class concluded. It sat there for over a decade before I pulled it out again. That script was the inspiration behind my first contemporary romance novel, I Loved You Yesterday—which became book one a trilogy in August 2022. My passion for creative storytelling stemmed from this experience. I now have five published books with a six due to launch in November. Beyond my author career, I work full-time at COUNTRY Financial in corporate communications as the division’s editor. I also teach in the School of Communication at Illinois State University. I’m a mom to three and have been married for 13 years. Do you ever imagine one of your novels being made into a movie or television series? Of course, I do! I write spicy, contemporary stories with a guaranteed HEA. I’ve been told many times that my books would make for perfect Hallmark or Lifetime movies—and I’m totally on board with that! Any favorite actors you’d cast in the lead roles? I’ve had a crush on Orlando Bloom since I was a teenager, so beyond any doubt, I’d cast him in a lead role without any hesitation. What is your writing process? For instance, do you do an outline first? Do you write the chapters in sequence? The first six books I completed were plotted out chapter-by-chapter. I mapped out the entire story before I wrote a single word. However, for my most recent novel, Rudderless in Love, I took the pantser approach and let the story reveal itself as I moved along. I like both approaches! They’ve both served me well. Describe the characters in your latest book. My most recent release is Finding Love, book two in the Clumsy Little Hearts trilogy. Rachel Prescott is the female main character. She’s a hopeless romantic who has been unsuccessful with online dating. She falls in love with Miguel Rodriguez, a restaurant owner with a broken heart. It’s a story about finding love with an imperfect person, but learning along the way how perfect they are for you. Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write? More or less, I have a strong vision for my main characters before I start drafting. I like to create character profiles in advance to really understand their motivations, flaws, and internal conflicts. When it comes to secondary characters though, they typically emerge as the story progresses. What is your latest book about? Who says you can’t find love over a plate of mushroom ravioli? Rachel Prescott has always dated the wrong men. Each relationship begins with hope, but within months ends with “nope.” The harder she tries, the harder she fails. That is, until the new owner of Pier Ninety-Two, Miguel Rodriguez, spots her wallowing over her latest dating disaster in his restaurant. Easily smitten with the brown-haired beauty, Miguel offers her his heart. Or at least, what’s left of it. Because Miguel has had his own troubled past finding the right woman. With the echo of lost love still haunting his heart, he convinces himself he’s ready to move on—and who better with than the spunky, sexy, and strong-willed, Rachel Prescott? Over a bottle of wine (or two), Miguel and Rachel instantly connect. And by the end of the evening, it’s more than their shared plate of mushroom ravioli left steaming. Can you share an excerpt? Miguel lifted his hand and cupped her forehead. Heat warmed his fingers as another chill wracked her body. “Miguel?” she whispered and turned her face toward his. “Hmm?” “I don’t remember the last time someone brought me soup when I was sick.” His smile widened, growing with each passing second as their easy conversation flowed. “What are neighbors for?” Her big brown eyes forced his stomach to somersault, sending his nerves into overdrive. His skin tingled, rippling shivers across his skin as she pressed a soft kiss on his cheek. “I don’t know what you are yet, but you’re more than just a neighbor, Miguel Rodriguez,” she whispered and draped the blanket across his lap, too. Gripping the remote control, Rachel gestured to the screen and smiled. “Stay for the Two Towers?” He pressed a kiss on her temple and pulled her closer. “Count me in for the Return of the King, too.” What’s the next project you’ll be working on? My next book, Chasing Love, book three in the Clumsy Little Hearts trilogy releases on November 19, 2024. Beyond that, I just completed the first draft of Rudderless in Love, a romantic suspense story. I’m unsure what my publication plans look like for this one yet, but I’m excited to see how it plays out. Here are the link where you can find Julie's books The Trading Heartbeats trilogy: I Loved You Yesterday: https://books2read.com/u/mZpoRp I Love You Today: https://books2read.com/u/3kDKEO I’ll Love You Tomorrow: https://books2read.com/u/mV2zMl The Clumsy Little Hearts trilogy: Trusting Love: https://books2read.com/u/meLndg Finding Love: https://books2read.com/u/4Dj6yr Music Crosby, Stills & Nash were a powerful folk- rock supergroup from the late 1960s. David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash were known for their intricate harmonies. The trio had a significant impact on the American culture. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame both as the trio and with other bands they performed with. While it has been years since they toured, their music remains popular today. Here are my top five favorites.
Southern Cross: https://youtu.be/Bw9gLjEGJrw?si=NeQG3wkwMQa5lnjx Marrakesh Express: https://youtu.be/0TYq9RjdYYU?si=D__bmf_DVLIkDU4P Love the One You’re With: https://youtu.be/SY4HI_vqf0c?si=G411s0ivL618WKcu Suite: Judy Blue Eyes: https://youtu.be/ZGT0P0XJRFM?si=hOyKGWrZvEFSKNTF Just a Song: https://youtu.be/_UoneXjfBC0?si=Qa4BlXae2DvlNFsF The 52nd Issue Wait! It’s that time again already! Didn’t I just do this yesterday? Obviously, nothing stops the calendar. The days keep marching on. Time for updates on writing, events, works in progress, an interview with an award-winning author and music. And to shake things up a little, I’m also introducing a contest. Ready? Let’s rock. Writing In addition to my efforts as a writer, I also teach at a local college. One of the things that drives me crazy is students who wait until the last possible minute to submit their assignments. More often than not, these efforts will include multiple errors. This can be anything from spelling and grammar issues to fragments and run-on sentences. Annoying. And it usually costs them points. So many mistakes can be discovered and corrected by simply proofreading your work. This same point holds true for authors. It doesn’t matter if you’re a newbie or on a bestseller’s list. These mistakes can disrupt even the best story. These factual errors irritate me. It’s worse when they appear in a new novel produced by one of the major publishers. No doubt there was a team of editors charged with checking and doublechecking the manuscript. Or maybe the editors just assume Mr. Bestseller would never make such blatant mistakes. Yeah, right! I just finished such a book. It was gigantic. More than 800 pages in length. There was a lot of action and backstory here. I’ve read several novels by this author before and usually enjoy them. But early on, there was an error, where a character, who had lost his right arm at the shoulder during the war, suddenly had full use of that arm. That irked me. I brushed it off and kept reading. And then it happened again! Now the character uses the missing arm and hand to scoop up a gun, execute some type of ninja warrior Matrix style move and fire three shots at his assailant. All with a limb and fingers he doesn’t have! Such sloppiness should have been caught by the author early on and certainly by someone on the editing team. After finishing the book, I’m less than pleased. Chances are I’m not likely to read something else by this guy. Yet there’s a lesson here. This makes me strive that much harder to study every detail, every line, every bit of dialogue that goes into my novels. I don’t want to disappoint the readers with sloppy work. If I’m able to hook a reader with one book, I hope they’ll enjoy it and return for more. Proofreading is an essential part of the process. Take the time and get it right! Your readers will thank you. Events I’ve created a monster! As this newsletter goes ‘live’ I’m in the midst of six weekend shows in a row! What moron booked me with back-to-back events, three of which run both Saturday and Sunday? What was he thinking? Oh wait! That was me. Never mind. Upcoming shows include the Hazel Park Art Fair on August 24 and 25, the South Haven All Craft Fair on August 31 and September 1, Paw Paw’s Wine & Harvest Festival on September 7 and 8, Saugatuck’s Art in the Park on September 14 AND Coldwater’s Apple Harvest Festival on September 21. Works in Progress The crime novel keeps moving forward. 52,000 words is right around the corner and more scenes keep coming to mind. I’ve been working on the timeline, so it’s easier to identify any scenes that are needed to tie everything together. To add to my efforts, ideas for the next Jefferson Chene mystery are also refusing to wait their turn. It’s been my practice when something like this occurs to get to the keyboard and write. Only after doing that am I able to switch gears and get back to Leo Agonasti and the crime novel. My target for Leo’s story is 80,000 words by the end of October. We’ll see if that’s feasible. The Contest Seeking Jamie Richmond This year I’ve been participating in many art festivals and events to display and sell my books. As any salesperson worthy of a commission would say, you need multiple pitches to attract customers to your products. That means I have one set that relates to the Jefferson Chene police procedural mysteries, a pitch for the new release Rules of Desperation and of course a different spiel for the Jamie Richmond series. Truth be told, Jamie is one of the most memorable characters I’ve created. She’s intelligent, clever, loyal, diligent, loving and possesses a real smart-ass attitude, along with a sharp sense of humor. Did I mention she’s a redhead? Yep! Physically, Jamie has been described as slender, standing about five foot seven, with emerald green eyes. She’s in her early thirties. One of my pitches for the Jamie books comes into play when a redheaded female passes near my table. Author Cecilia A. Garcia, who has shared my booth on a few occasions, refers to this pitch as ‘shameless’. I’ll ask the lady if by chance she modeled for one of the covers. That usually leads to a smile. Sometimes it also leads to a sale. As Cecilia said ‘shameless!’ Recently I shared this with Melissa Keir at Inkspell, who publishes the Jamie series. She replied, ‘I hope you have a bunch of redhead women of various ages who follow you from event to event, just to talk about your books.’ And that’s when inspiration struck. Why not have a little contest, seeking possible Jamies? From now until the end of September, any ladies can submit a picture holding up one of the five Jamie Richmond mysteries. You don’t have to be a redhead. You could share Jamie’s spirit of curiosity, stubbornness and vitality. While there is no redhead on the cover of “Vanishing Act” it’s still an integral part of the series. The grand prize winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card. Second, third and fourth place winners (in the US) will receive an autographed copy of “Stealing Haven”. If you’re a winner outside the country, you’ll get a free e-book. Winners will be drawn at random. To sweeten the deal, the winners’ names will be used for characters in an upcoming Jamie Richmond novel. Pictures can be posted on my Facebook Author page, Instagram page or sent directly to me at [email protected]. Ready for your closeup? Author Spotlight I’ve known Brenda Hasse for several years now. We’ve often crossed paths at some of the same events. It’s time to learn more about this talented multi[le award winning writer. Tell us a little about yourself and how you became an author. My story is one of irony. As a child, I hated to read. I would rather clean my bedroom than read a book. It was hard for me. I had difficulty learning to read and was labeled as a ‘slow reader’ during my elementary school years. I was pulled from my classroom weekly and worked with a paraprofessional to improve my reading skills. Maybe I developed my storytelling during those years. I think many people get the urge to write a book during their lifetime, as did I. I wrote my first novel, improved my writing the more I wrote, and have now finished my 17th book. I have received several awards for my writing. I have also written for a few magazines too. I live in Fenton, Michigan with my husband, Chuck, and two cats, Petey and Max. Do you ever imagine one of your novels being made into a movie or television series? Writing a novel is hard work. It’s a lot of keeping your bottom in your chair and fingers on the keyboard. I think it is only natural to want to share something that you have created with others, whether it being a sculpture, painting, photography, or writing. Since some people don’t like to read, having a novel made into a movie or television series is another medium in which to reach those people and have them enjoy your work. I believe every author hopes to have their novel appreciated by as many people as possible. Any favorite actors you’d cast in the lead roles? I don’t have any favorite actors/actresses. I would leave that decision to the experts. I believe it would be necessary to have at least one well-known actor but hope an actor who is just starting out would get the opportunity to catapult their career by being cast too. What is your writing process? For instance, do you do an outline first? Do you write the chapters in sequence? I define myself as a plantser. I usually have a rough outline and always know how the book will end before I begin to write. I’m flexible in my writing and will change or add to the storyline while I write. I have tried pantsing, but usually delete 2/3 of what I have written, put together an outline, and begin again. As far as my process, I write a rough draft, go through it a second time fleshing out the characters and details (developmental edit), then edit once before sending my novel to beta readers. While my novel is being read by my beta reader, I work on writing the blurb and designing the book cover. Based on my beta reader’s recommendation, I make changes, edit at least twice and ensure the format is correct before publishing. Tell us about the characters in your latest book. My latest book, The Healer’s Apprentice (expected publication October 1, 2024), is the first book in The Town Witch trilogy. There are 28 characters in the book, with several featured in all three books. The romantic suspense trilogy is set in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1788 – 1829. Haggadah Blyth is the main character. Book 1 is how Haggadah becomes the town healer. Book 2 – The Cursed Witch is based on a true event – Anna Stewart was 18 years old when she was declared dead. She was buried in a graveyard. Within 24 hour, two homeless men dug her body up to sell it to the anatomy theater for dissection by the medical students, but when they threw her body on the ground, Anna sneezed, sat up, and the men ran away leaving her amongst the graves. The Cursed Witch is about who tried to kill Anna and why. The third book – The Parade of Souls takes place on the Eve of Saint Mark (April 24). Haggadah discovers a young lady, Sophie, standing outside the graveyard. The town witch has Sophie accompany her to sit on the stoop of the church and watch the parade. Between the hours of 11:00 and 1:00, spirits rise from the graveyard and pass through the closed door of the church. The spirits are the souls of the people who will die in the coming year. Unfortunately, Sophie recognized one of the spirits and hopes to stop them from dying. Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write? The main characters are established before I begin writing. However, secondary characters tend to appear as I write and flesh out the storyline. What is your latest book about? My latest book is The Healer’s Apprentice. It tells the story of how Haggadah became the town witch, her romance with Tavish, and the struggles she faces in her life. Can you share an excerpt? Here is an excerpt from The Healer’s Apprentice – Chapter 1 Edinburgh, Scotland – February 1786 Haggadah leaned out of the room’s only window and snatched the damp clothing from the rope that spanned the width of the narrow cobblestone lane. She stared at the chaos of people that resembled scrambling ants in the crowded passageway several stories below. A steady drizzle of rain dampened her face, forcing her back inside to help her mother, Freya, pack what little they had. “It’s starting to rain.” A young woman of ten and six, Haggadah watched her mother shove a nub of a candle, a stale half-loaf of bread, a jar of preserves they received as a gift, and a small tin containing two coins into the carpetbag. The satchel had been a gift from Frey’s wealthy employer, or so Haggadah had been told. Even though her mother tried to shield her from the harsh realities of life, Freya confided the truth of her pregnancy. As a maid, she had been raped by her employer. Once the growing child within her became apparent, the man’s uncompassionate wife fired Freya from her job to save the wealthy family from social embarrassment or perhaps continue the masquerade of her marriage. Cast out into the street, Freya was left to struggle on their own. With a few coins to her name, the expectant mother became a tenant in a crowded room on Niddry’s Wynd, giving her a roof over her head. When it came time for the baby to be born, Frey’s labor was long and laborious. Concerned, one of the women fetched the town healer to help with the difficult birth. As the infant was placed in her arms, she stared at her daughter's innocent, cherub face. Even though her pregnancy had cost her dearly, she considered the baby a blessing. Haggadah knew she was loved, for her mother often told her so. Together, the pair found a way to survive. After all, they had no other choice. Six months ago, they watched from a distance on the first day of August as the Grand Master Mason, Lord Haddo, laid the cornerstone for the construction of the South Bridge and announced the demolition of the building to make way. Now that the construction contract was awarded, word spread throughout the building of the tenants' immediate eviction. The crew would begin tearing down the tenements by day’s end. Haggadah handed the damp, tattered garments to her mother. Three resounding knocks from a strong fist sounded upon the door, warning the pair that their time in the tiny apartment had ended. Panic sparked within Haggadah’s heart as she looked at the closed apartment door and then at her mother. “Mum?” Freya frantically glanced around the room as footfalls echoed from the staircase. She looked at her daughter and nodded toward the superstitious herb handing on the wall. “Grab the bay leaves. We must hurry.” After placing the wadded clothing in the center of their threadbare blanket, she tied the opposite corners together, forming a makeshift knapsack. The mild exertion caused Freya to cough. She paused to inhale a wheezing, deep breath and gather her strength. Haggadah pulled the bay leaves from the nail where they hung. Even though she and her mother attended Mass every Sunday, always praying for a better life, they believed in the silly wives’ tale of the herb warding off any witches or evil doers. Haggadah gave her mother the dried and dusty herb before scanning the dirty, bare walls and room. It was odd to see it empty of the twenty people usually huddled together and sleeping on the floor. She watched her mother place the talisman in the carpetbag. Heavy footfalls echoed on the stairs as the tenants from the upper two floors evacuated the building. Haggadah was thankful she would never climb the twelve flights of stairs to get to their apartment again, but where would she and her mother live now? The four walls were the only home she had ever known. “Put on your cloak.” Freya ordered as she took both garments from the peg on the wall and handed one to her daughter. “Then slip your arms through the ties,” she gave the makeshift knapsack to her daughter, “and carry this on your back.” A cough rattled deep within her chest once again. Concern masked Haggadah’s face as she adjusted the knapsack on her back and waited with her hand on the doorknob for her mother to catch her breath. She took one last look at the room. Even though their home was often cold during the winter, reeked from the excrement in the bucket used as a chamber pot, and the air was filled with smoke from the small fireplace, at least it protected them from the weather. No longer would they have that luxury. “We must go.” Freya picked up the carpetbag, jingling the two coins in a small tin at its bottom. Haggadah opened the door, stepped forward, and nearly collided with a barrel-chested man rushing down the stairs. Freya stepped forward and turned to grasp the doorknob. She saw the nearly full bucket in the corner of the room. No one had thrown its contents to the street below at the stroke of ten the previous night. It was of no concern to her now. The single mother left the room, closing the door. Looking over her shoulder to ensure her mother was behind her, Haggadah descended the stairs at a slow pace, hoping her matriarch could do so without becoming winded. As she stepped onto the cobblestone pavement of Niddry’s Wynd, she looked heavenward at the gray morning sky. Its continued drizzle reflected the sorrow in her heart. Haggadah pulled her hood onto her head and turned, expecting her mother. Instead, a nicely dressed family stepped onto the narrow, cobbled street. She assumed they had lived on a floor in the center of the building where the more well-off families resided. Haggadah was thankful to have lived on the upper floors rather than the lowest, where the poorest of the poor resided. The stench from the dumped chamber pots permeated their walls, making it unbearable to open windows for a reprieve from the stench. When Freya joined her, they followed the parade of former residents through the narrow passage. Haggadah envied the wealthy who could afford a room at boarding houses, that is, if they could find one. Like many others, she and her mother’s future looked bleak. Echoes of fussy babies, inquisitive children, and footfalls droned like a marching garrison as people walked toward the main street. Haggadah stepped over a rivulet of sewage streaming downhill to Nor Loch. She looked over her shoulder at her mother, who was coughing again. “Where should we go?” She flattened herself against the wall, allowing a robust woman to pass by. Freya shook her head. “I don’t ken.” With only a few coins to their name, she knew they could not afford a room. She reasoned the money would be better spent on food. The ill woman thought of the only place to bide their time until nightfall. “This way.” Freya headed north toward Nor Loch with her daughter following. Haggadah’s shoulder was bumped by several people in the narrow passage as she tried to follow closely behind her frail mother. Freya stopped abruptly, causing her daughter to collide with her back. She grabbed Haggadah’s arm, silently encouraging her to do as she did and flatten herself against the stone wall. A hooded figure stopped before them. Haggadah held her breath as her steel gray eyes stared into the emerald eyes of the old hag staring back at her. She wished the woman with the renowned reputation as a witch would move on. What was seconds seemed like several minutes. Gooseflesh pricked her arms as the old woman stared with intrigue at Haggadah until she satisfied her curiosity. The old woman glanced at Freya, then moved on. Exhaling, Haggadah turned to her mother. “That was the healing witch, wasn’t it?” Freya nodded. “Aye, Grizel.” “What is she doing in this part of the city?” “It’s none of your concern, nor mine.” Haggadah watched as people in the passage stepped aside, giving a wide berth for Grizel to pass through the narrow lane. Everyone knew where the town healer lived. All they had to do was look at the night sky and see the billowing green smoke emanating from her chimney as she conjured in her ancient cottage several blocks away. Haggadah shivered as a chill went up her spine. She hoped to never cross paths with the old hag again. What’s the next project you’ll be working on? I’m not sure. I’ve thought about rewriting A Lady’s Destiny, but I have several other storylines in mind. You can learn more about Brenda and her books at her website. www.BrendaHasseBooks.com Music
Many of the top hits from the band Journey remain popular today. The original band, formed in the early 1970s, with Steve Perry as the lead vocalist, had a record of 19 top 40 singles and had more than 20 albums achieved gold and platinum status. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. Here are my top five favorites. Don’t Stop Believing. https://youtu.be/1k8craCGpgs?si=4-S1mx1nZ5k5i_SE Faithfully: https://youtu.be/OMD8hBsA-RI?si=vSvVfBb8nDSztGzS Any Way You Want It: https://youtu.be/atxUuldUcfI?si=lZBwGB6gKbUV6Bg7 Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’: https://youtu.be/fTkHFQC3wow?si=3xmfixtWAYG3mdUQ Open Arms: https://youtu.be/i5pUOVC50Y8?si=3slu77Al24EL3nEI This year I’ve been participating in many art festivals and events to display and sell my books. As any salesperson worthy of a commission would say, you need multiple pitches to attract customers to your products. That means I have one set that relates to the Jefferson Chene police procedural mysteries, a pitch for the new release Rules of Desperation and of course a different spiel for the Jamie Richmond series. Truth be told, Jamie is one of the most memorable characters I’ve created. She’s intelligent, clever, loyal, diligent, loving and possesses a real smart-ass attitude, along with a sharp sense of humor. Did I mention she’s a redhead? Yep! Physically, Jamie has been described as slender, standing about five foot seven, with emerald green eyes. She’s in her early thirties. One of my pitches for the Jamie books comes into play when a redheaded female passes near my table. Author Cecilia A. Garcia, who has shared my booth on a few occasions, refers to this pitch as ‘shameless’. I’ll ask the lady if by chance she modeled for one of the covers. That usually leads to a smile. Sometimes it also leads to a sale. As Cecilia said ‘shameless!’ Recently I shared this with Melissa Keir at Inkspell, who publishes the Jamie series. She replied, ‘I hope you have a bunch of redhead women of various ages who follow you from event to event, just to talk about your books.’ And that’s when inspiration struck. Why not have a little contest, seeking possible Jamies? From now until the end of September, any ladies can submit a picture holding up one of the five Jamie Richmond mysteries. You don’t have to be a redhead. You could share Jamie’s spirit of curiosity, stubbornness and vitality. While there is no redhead on the cover of “Vanishing Act” it’s still an integral part of the series. The grand prize winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card. Second, third and fourth place winners (in the US) will receive an autographed copy of “Stealing Haven”. If you’re a winner outside the country, you’ll get a free e-book. Winners will be drawn at random. To sweeten the deal, the winners’ names will be used for characters in an upcoming Jamie Richmond novel.
Pictures can be posted on my Facebook Author page, Instagram page or sent directly to me at [email protected]. Ready for your closeup? ‘Write a newsletter’, a friend once said. ‘It’s a great way to share details about your efforts as a writer. Include some special features. Make it different from all the other ones.’ Difficult to believe that was more than four years ago. This monthly spot continues with bits about my writing, upcoming events, works in progress, interviews with talented authors and music. Variety is a wonderful thing! Ready? Let’s roll. Writing “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.” You probably recognize Shakespeare’s line here from Romeo and Juliet. It’s appropriate for this section on writing. I’m a sucker for unusual names. As a kid many of the characters in books I enjoyed had common, everyday names. They were as plain as white bread and mayonnaise. That’s boring! The characters’ names can give you a clue as to how they might behave, if the writer puts some thought into it. Some writers will use a random name generator app. But that takes all the fun out of it. A great resource I’ve discovered is capturing the names of people I meet during the day. This is especially true at the events I participate in. So far this year, I’ve met young ladies named Breezy, Arizona, Alura, Sharmane, Nikkia, Cheyanne, Kayleigh, Rebekah, Brittney, Mina, Madisyn, Destinee and Avva. Sure, some of these may be just unique spelling of common names, but that’s the point. I want to celebrate the differences by using some of these for my characters. One of the reference books I use that’s been on my shelf for years is the Character Naming Sourcebook. It gives the nationality and the meaning for various names. This is my go-to book for the background on names. Sometimes I’ll pull them directly from there. The more distinctive the name, the more memorable the character. And that’s what I’m striving for. Because if the readers remember the names, they may just come back to buy another book. Events The caravan continues! Next stops on my wandering around the Mitten State include: Dowagiac’s Summer Festival on July 19 and 20, (Main & Front Street) the SterlingFest in Sterling Heights on July 27, (in front of the library on Dodge Park) Art in the Park in Holland on August 3 (Centennial Park, Central and 10th) and the Treasures & Treats Craft Show, part of Howell’s Melon Festival on August 17 (First Presbyterian Church, 323 W. Grand River). Work In Progress Writing on the crime novel continues. I’ve passed the 50,000 word mark on the first draft, which is encouraging. That means it’s time for me to go back through the manuscript, scene by scene, and start putting them together into some type of timeline. This helps me determine what details need to be expanded on. It also provides me with the opportunity to consider scenes that are needed to connect the subplots with the main story. It’s part of the process that has always served me well. With any luck I’ll write another three to five thousand words this month. Time will tell. Author Interview I am proud to be part of the Inkspell Publishing family. That’s the house that brings the Jamie Richmond books to life. Somehow I think that means Libby Kay and I are related, since she’s also with Inkspell. You know her stories would be great if they were accepted for publication there. Let’s learn a bit more about her. Tell us a little about yourself and how you became an author. I’m a bit of a cliché, I’m afraid. I’m a librarian who has had a lifelong obsession with books. Some of my earliest memories are going to the library for the summer reading program. I’d leave with armfuls of books, hiding away in the house behind a stack of stories. As I got a little older, I started doodling little picture books. Granted, it was basically 2-dimensional sketches, but I loved crafting the words that built the story. (There’s a reason I’m glad Inkspell has cover artists—I cannot draw to save my life!) I love writing. It’s an escape and inspirational place for me to go. While I only published my first book in 2022, I’ve been writing since I was a teenager. (And trust me when I tell you, that was a long time ago.) Getting my stories out to readers is a dream come true, if you’ll excuse another cliché. I’ve had readers reach out and share how my stories touched them or made them believe in love again. That is so rewarding, and it puts the biggest smile on my face! When I’m not reading and writing, I spend time with my husband and hike or travel. I’m a homebody, but we love to get away on weekends and explore the Midwest. If we happen to find a delicious restaurant in our travels, all the better. 😉 Do you ever imagine one of your novels being made into a movie or television series? Yes, more often than I should admit. 😉 My Buckeye Falls series has Virgin River and Sweet Magnolias vibes, so I’d love to see it turned into a Netflix or Hallmark series. That will always be the dream. Any favorite actors you’d cast in the lead roles? What’s that expression? Beggars can’t be choosers? If my books were turned into a movie or TV show, I wouldn’t push too hard for any certain celebrity. I have a hodgepodge of people in mind when I write my characters, and it’s rarely just one person. Unfortunately, the one person I do envision with a character is no longer with us. (For those of you who read Falling Again, Anthony is modeled after JFK Jr. Swoon!) What is your writing process? For instance, do you do an outline first? Do you write the chapters in sequence? In the world of pantsing or plotting—I’m definitely a panster. I have a brief outline of what will happen in the book, using beat sheets from Gwen Hayes’s book Romancing the Beat. But overall, I write in the moment and write in sequence. When I get stuck in a certain passage, I usually work on the epilogue to get me focused on the couple’s happily ever after. Describe the characters in your latest book. My most recent release is Faking the Fall. It’s book 4 in my Buckeye Falls series, but like all the books can be enjoyed as a stand-alone read. Faking the Fall follows Alice and James, and one of my favorite tropes: fake dating! Alice is a bit of a free spirit who spent the last decade traveling and going to school. Now she’s back home in Buckeye Falls, but she isn’t ready to settle down yet. The only problem? Her family and neighbors won’t get off her back about her sad dating life. Enter James, a sweet hearted (and adorable!) artist who recently relocated to town after a bitter divorce. He’s been hiding away working on his newest collection, but he’s lacking that creative sparkle. When he and Alice meet, James sees the perfect muse to get his creative juices flowing. Alice finds the perfect fake boyfriend to please her fellow Buckeyes. The only problem with their little scheme? When they start to catch real feelings. Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write? When I started writing the Buckeye Falls series, I envisioned a trilogy. I had firm ideas for Max, Evan, and Anthony to get their happily ever afters. But the more I wrote, the more I wanted to give Alice and Mallory their own stories. They played big parts in helping their brothers find love, and I couldn’t imagine leaving those girls hanging. 😊 What is your latest book about? Sparks fly when a reclusive artist meets his muse in this new installment of the Buckeye Falls series. Alice Snyder knows her reputation—and if she didn’t, Buckeye Falls loves to remind her. She may come from the town’s First Family, but that doesn’t mean she plays by the rules. After a decade of traveling and going to school, she’s back home and ready to settle down, or at least relax for a while. The trouble is, her neighbors are determined to find her a husband. She needs a way to get them off her back… When James Gibson, a divorced artist, flees New York for the peace of small-town Ohio, he’s excited to get painting again. The only trouble is, he’s completely blocked. Despite his best efforts, his collection of canvases are blank and he’s at a career crossroads. A chance meeting with the mayor’s sister throws James’s routine off balance, and he’s eager to spend more time with this quirky spitfire. And Alice might have the solution to both their problems… Fake Date. She gets the Nosey Nellies off her back, and James gets time with a woman who inspires him both inside and outside the studio. Just a few weeks of pretending, and they’ll move on. Simple, right? The trouble is the more time they spend together, the realer their relationship feels. The laughter, the stolen kisses—it all starts to feel like more. Can these two be honest with each other and find their happily-ever-after, or are they doomed for a real breakup? For anyone who is a Buckeye Falls fan, stay tuned this August for the final novel in the series--Forever to Fall. This is Mallory’s happily ever after with Beckett, her brother’s best friend and first love. Check out my Instagram and Facebook pages for a cover reveal and teasers later in July! Libby Kay’s FAKING THE FALL redeems Buckeye Falls’s spinster troublemaker with a fake relationship romance filled with sweet small town vibes. FAKING THE FALL will bring to mind amazing books like Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams and Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey. But best of all, it returns readers to the small Ohio town and the familiar characters from the previous Buckeye Falls books. All the zany, overbearing, and well-meaning ones! So, sit back and grab FAKING THE FALL for the latest roller-coaster romance by Libby Kay. Can you share an excerpt too? The air had a delicious freshness to it, a faint hint of leaves and spice in the air. “This was one of the best nights I’ve had in a while.” Alice only broke away from James’s hold when they reached the car. “Seriously, just what I needed.” The itching in his fingers told James the evening was not only enjoyable, but also inspirational. The fading sunlight gave Alice a glow he wanted to capture on canvas. But first, he needed to kiss her again. Kissing Alice felt urgent, a necessity to keep him going. Pinning Alice against the side of his car, James caged his arms on either side of her. Keeping six inches of distance between them, he waited a moment for her to object. He was coming on strong, especially for a fake boyfriend, but he couldn’t stay away. Alice had this magnetic energy, and James was powerless to resist. “Alice.” Her name escaped on a rasp. She slowly lifted her head, and James knew she felt this too. This was not a one-sided attraction; what burned between them was too strong, too special. “I’m going to kiss you now.” “Okay.” She nodded, jutting her tongue out to lick her bottom lip. Any control James had evaporated into the early autumn air. Cupping her face, he closed the remaining distance and kissed her like his life depended on it. Because from where James was standing, it very well might. Alice felt like his lifeblood, and not just creatively. Getting her to smile, watching her come out of her shell was all he wanted in the world. What’s the next project you’ll be working on? I just got an Inkspell contract for a new book, When Sparks Fly. This is still a sweet, smalltown romance, but it’s set in Georgia and follows a team of firefighters as they fall in love. I’m envisioning a trilogy for this series. When Sparks Fly will release in April 2025. Stay tuned for more details! For anyone who is a Buckeye Falls fan, stay tuned this August for the final novel in the series--Forever to Fall. This is Mallory’s happily ever after with Beckett, her brother’s best friend and first love. Check out my Instagram and Facebook pages for a cover reveal and teasers later in July! Faking the Fall buy links: AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CDM9F6LX KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/faking-the-fall BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/faking-the-fall-libby-kay/1143866386 APPLE: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id6457364406 Other links: Website: https://www.libbykayauthor.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/libbykayauthor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LibbyKayAuthor/ Goodreads: Libby Kay https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19377638.Libby_Kay Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/libby-kay Music
At a recent event, I was talking about the newsletter with a couple of lovely young ladies who were interested in my books. When I mentioned that music is always a part of my day, they asked for specifics. It was a pleasant surprise to learn they recognized many of the artists I referred to. Occasionally I will select a theme instead of just one performer or band. They challenged me to pick songs with colors in the title. How could I refuse? Normally, I pick five titles, but there was no way to narrow it down, so here’s my top ten tunes. Santana: Black Magic Woman. https://youtu.be/9wT1s96JIb0?si=zrwnUUlrF6_fGajM Linda Ronstandt: Blue Bayou. https://youtu.be/Kp9G0zkorio?si=z1cLHcxm9hxJIWYM Van Morrison: Brown Eyed Girl. https://youtu.be/UfmkgQRmmeE?si=lwWhEvNqcKcixVEu Mitch Ryder: Devil in a Blue Dress. https://youtu.be/0Ubl1thJwG4?si=7SNUPxxRPSddAbLn Sting: Fields of Gold. https://youtu.be/5som4EYefio?si=nXUgmiz1v4W7v73F Spin Doctors: Jimm Olson’s Blues https://youtu.be/GrQCro68sRU?si=il2NY3MUQwZs14At Prince: Little Red Corvette. https://youtu.be/v0KpfrJE4zw?si=nP-CDmi4nT71jr46 Aretha Franklin: Pink Cadillac. https://youtu.be/Ip_pjb5_fgA?si=I_rEPCcC-KsmUZIU Bruce Springsteen: Pink Cadillac. https://youtu.be/V4PeT6aeytU?si=PLz-L39i-uE9daOT John Mellencamp: Pink Houses https://youtu.be/qOfkpu6749w?si=nfSEu7cqgJuHdYxG We were lucky to catch up with Mark Love recently and have shared our conversation below. Mark , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s something crazy on unexpected that’s happened to you or your business. My business centers around my efforts as a writer. I’m the author of 9 books that are available in print and eb00k formats. Writing mysteries can be challenging. I want my stories to be believable, so it takes a lot of research to make sure the facts are accurate and pertain to the story. In addition to selling my books online, I frequently attend various events, such as festivals and art shows. That gives me the opportunity to interact in person with potential readers. It’s essential that I have a number of pitches prepared. In a heartbeat, I have to adjust my pitch to connect with people as they approach my booth. It’s important to be upbeat, friendly and able to engage anyone in a conversation. This is similar to being onstage. It’s improvisation at it’s finest. At a show last year, an older woman stopped by. She glared at the covers of each book. Then she pointed a crooked finger at the first on display. “What’s this about?” she asked. I gave her the synopsis, describing what could be found on the back. She frowned, nodded, and hooked her thumb at the one beside it. “And that one?” she asked. Again, I gave her the details. She repeated the process, scowling at me for more than 15 minutes as we moved through the table’s display. “So this is all fiction. Basically, you’re just making stuff up!” she said.. I agreed and confirmed that was the definition of fiction. Then I pointed out my efforts to research certain topics that were pertinent to each book. By now, I was ready to chalk it up as a waste of time. That’s when she surprised me and whipped out her credit card. “I’ll take one of each. But you can’t charge me extra for signing them.” “Autographs are always free,” I assured her. Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers. As a kid, I was an avid reader. While I read a variety of genres, mysteries always captured my attention. Perhaps that is what triggered the storyteller in me. During my professional career, I worked in many industries in different roles. After spending twenty years as a Human Resources Director or Manager, I was tired of solving problems for employees and management and working for someone else. Ten years ago, I began teaching business courses at the local college. One course I’ve taught every year since is Small Business Management. This focuses on how to start your own company. Teaching the material gave me insight into how to create and grow my own business. At the same time, I had been sharpening my skills as a writer. After getting a few short stories published, I started writing novels. Research helped me find a publisher who liked my work. One story lead to another. It was a kick to see my novels get printed. I ended up leaving the first publisher and finding a second one that was more interested in my books. Ideas kept coming. With the last name of Love (yes, that’s really my name) an editor told me readers would expect a little romance in my books. That led to the Jamie Richmond series, which are now with the Inkspell Publishing House. There are five books so far. “Devious”, “Vanishing Act”, “Fleeing Beauty”, “Stealing Haven” and “Chasing Favors” I started a second series, about a squad of police detectives investigating major crimes. There are three books in that series to date. The Jefferson Chene mysteries are with The Wild Rose Press.. Those titles include “Why 319?” “Your Turn to Die” and “The Wayward Path”. I’ve also self-published another book, “Rules of Desperation” was released in May, 2024. It’s my first attempt at self-publishing. It’s an experiment with a standalone book to see how it sells. I also wanted to have a new title on my display table at festivals this year. I am proud of each book. What is remarkable to me is to see the reactions of people at festivals and events as they become interested in my work. It’s also rewarding when someone from a different venue seeks me out to buy another book in the series. What sets me apart from other small businesses is two-fold. The books are my product. Each one is a standalone novel, set in contemporary times that the reader can relate to. Books are a great escape. They can also entertain and educate the reader. The second component is me. Whenever I’m at a festival or event, I strive to engage potential buyers, telling them just enough about myself and my books to attract their attention and hopefully result in a sale. All of my books take place in Michigan, primarily the metropolitan Detroit area. That location becomes a character in my work. So it was only fitting that I named the company “Motown Mysteries”. The name clearly identifies what the business is about. Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?Every writer will face rejection at some point. My first attempts at selling stories did not go well. Disappointment reared it’s ugly head. A cloud of doubt began to circle. Was I any good? Could I actually write a story that people would read? Would they enjoy it? How could I surprise the reader? Could I keep them guessing or would they quickly figure out the mystery? I realized there was another way to improve my writing skills and get paid for it, by transitioning to journalism. I took a couple of journalism courses in college. One instructor recommended me and several other students to a local newspaper who was looking for freelance reporters. Many of the assignments were dull. I covered schoolboard and city council meetings. That led to offers to write editorials and a few feature assignments. Positive feedback from the newspaper editors gave me confidence. After five years of my side gig as a reporter, I was ready to return to writing fiction. Can you open up about how you funded your business?I have always worked another job. As an HR Director, I was able to set aside funds to slowly start the business. I have to purchase print copies of each of my books from the publishers. While I do get these at a discount, there are other costs I had to keep in mind. Each venue I attended usually charged a fee. Some provided booths, tables and chairs. Others did not. In the beginning, I picked one event each month during the season (May through September). I tracked the sales and calculated how much profit from each show. The more books I had, the more I sold. The more I sold, the more events I wanted to participate in. During the offseason, I built up the account for the business. I bought my own equipment for the outdoor events. This gave me the opportunity to find new venues. I closely monitor the sales volume at each show. In most cases, when I register for an event, I’ll check with some fellow authors to see if they are interested and available to join me. If so, that helps to reduce my cost. The less expense for the venue, the easier it is to make a profit. It’s not competition sharing a space with another author. It’s collaboration. We all treat this as a business. Contact Info:
Image Credits“Rules of Desperation” by Pages Promotions LLC
“Chasing Favors” and “Stealing Haven” by Fantasia Frog Designs “Devious” by Dawne Dominique “Fleeing Beauty” by Shades of Rose Media “Why 319?” and “Your Turn to Die” by R J Morris “The Wayward Path” by Debbie Taylor |
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Stealing Haven Why 319? The Wayward Path Devious Vanishing Act Your Turn To Die Chasing Favors Fleeing Beauty Mighty Books
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